These lawsuits have become the new norm across America as companies like Purdue Pharma – responsible for manufacturing and distributing drugs like OxyContin – continue to shell out millions in legal settlements.

Attorneys assert – and often win – claims that those who run these pharmaceutical companies knowingly put addictive drugs into the hands of doctors, pharmacies and other agencies in hopes that they would make it to consumers and further the industry.

“Opioid manufacturers misrepresented the addictive nature of their products," Denn said. "They, along with national opioid distributors and national pharmacies, knew that they were shipping quantities of opioids around the country so enormous that they could not possibly all be for legitimate medical purposes, but they failed to take basic steps to ensure that those drugs were going only to legitimate patients. ... The failure of these corporate defendants to meet their legal obligations has had a devastating impact on Delawareans."

Matthew Denn, Attorney General of Delaware.

Matthew Denn, Attorney General of Delaware.

Jason Minto, The News Journal

The Associated Press reported late last month that more than 300 similar claims have been filed in federal courts across the country and consolidated under Judge Dan Polster, who is based in Cleveland. The federal judge last week issued a gag order to attorneys and others about the closed-door settlement talks involving six state attorney generals, other state representatives and dozens of attorneys.

Polster has called the epidemic “100 percent man-made” and asserted that other branches of government have “punted” on solving it. He is pushing for a resolution before the case goes to trial.

Already this year, 24 people have died from suspected overdoses in Delaware, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services. The impact is costing the state millions of dollars to handle, though a concrete figure is difficult to come by.

“Saving lives is one of the most important services that any government provides,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “The conduct of multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies has caused significant pain and cost so many New Castle County families the lives of their loved ones. We cannot rest until those causing this are held to account and required to contribute to real solutions.”

The county retained the law firm of Motley Rice to "lead an investigation of the conduct of relevant companies that have done business in New Castle County, including those involved in the supply and delivery of opioids." The firm previously represented the first municipalities to file opioid-related cases in 2014 and also serves as co-lead counsel in the national multi-district opioid litigation.

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In Dover, city council approved the hiring of Marc J. Bern & Partners, a New York-based firm that has experience in opioid-related lawsuits. City Councilman Tanner Polce said the decision occurred in executive session and came after a unanimous vote.

"If you look at the origin of the proliferation of opioid addiction, it really starts with a decision of mass marketing and pushing product from pharmaceutical companies in the '90s," Polce said. "I think this was a really proactive measure that the city took."

Polce, who also serves as the policy director for Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, deals with this issue of addiction on a daily basis, but said the impact to his own constituents in Dover and Kent County hit home recently in an annual report from Delaware State Police Troop 3.

The troop reported calls to more than 200 overdoses in 2017, he said. Last year's final overdose numbers have not yet been released, but the state health department's running online tally indicated at least 233 people died from suspected overdoses at the close of 2017.

Polce stressed, too, that taxpayer dollars will not fund the lawsuit, but rather, will be supported on a contingency basis – as is the case for New Castle County's suit.

"My concern, for my constituents, is that I want to make sure that some of those dollars are recouped for the city of Dover," he said, adding that the money could then be used toward education, awareness, and early intervention for drug addiction, as it was during the tobacco company settlements.

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.